Programs & Resources

Camp & Israel Scholarships

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Camp and Israel Scholarships program provides support for families, with financial needs, so their children can participate immersive Jewish educational experiences. Scholarships are available to Jewish residents of the Greater Houston area who are attending a Jewish overnight camp in North America, and short-term and gap year programs in Israel.  

Funding for scholarships is made possible by donations to the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Annual Campaign, the Elaine Kellerman Camp and Israel Scholarship Fund, and the Roger Sofer Legacy Scholarship for Israel Programs Fund.  

Timeline and Key Dates 

Applications for scholarships must be submitted by April 14, 2026, for priority consideration. Applications received after this date will be reviewed based on available funding at the time of submission. The final deadline to submit your application is May 1, 2026. 

Scholarship applications are reviewed monthly from January through May and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Eligibility 

Families with a household income of up to $250,000 are eligible for scholarships. Families with extenuating circumstances, regardless of income, may also apply.  

Overnight Camp Scholarships

  • Greater Houston Jewish residents
  • Ages 7-18
  • Must attend overnight camp for a minimum of one week
  • Must attend a Jewish-content camp in North America (sample of approved camps can be found HERE)
  • Scholarships are available for one session per camper
  • IRS forms and W-2 forms are required with application
  • We strongly encourage applicants to apply for additional sources of scholarships. See below for other resources: 
    • Scholarships through your camp
    • Congregation or rabbi’s fund
    • Jewish Children’s Regional Services (JCRS)
      • JCRS scholarships are available for all Jewish campers in the Greater Houston area attending a Jewish overnight camp in North America. JCRS offers two options: a short form with a pre-determined award amount ($250), or a longer application with a need-based award to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Both the short form and the long form are financial need based. They will both require financial documents.    Visit www.jcrs.org to apply. 

Israel Travel Scholarships

  • Greater Houston Jewish residents
  • Current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
  • Israel program is sponsored by a Jewish organization
  • Must attend for a minimum of 3 weeks, and maximum of up to 1 year
  • A teen can receive up to a total of 2 scholarships for Israel travel throughout high school
  • IRS forms and W-2 forms required with application
  • Applications for long-term (8 weeks – 1 year) programs should be submitted by March 1.
  • We strongly encourage applicants to apply for additional sources of scholarships. See below for other resources:
    • Scholarships through your program
    • Congregation or rabbi’s fund
    • RootOne
      • RootOne provides up to $3,000 vouchers for current 9th, 10th, or 11th grade Jewish teens who are participating on trips supported by RootOne. Recipients must also complete pre-trip experience requirements.
  • Masa Israel
    • Masa Israel provides grants to participate in long-term Israel programs. Programs must be approved by Masa Israel to qualify for a grant.

Apply 

Google Chrome is the recommended browser. If you have submitted an application in prior years, or for another child this year, you can utilize the “Copy Previous Answers” (top right corner). If you are applying for multiple children, you must submit a separate application for each child. 

APPLY HERE

Camp & Israel Scholarship Webinar

Questions about eligibility and our process? View the webinar below to learn more. Please note, dates listed on the webinar may not reflect the current year’s schedule, refer to the dates listed above.

 

Questions?

For more information, contact  Liz Garza.

Other Student Loan & Scholarship Resources

  • Alexander Jewish Family Service is excited to launch their interest-free student loan and scholarship program for 2025-26!
    • Alexander JFS is honored to provide opportunities for Jewish students to apply for interest-free student loans through the Nathan and Sarah Klein Fund and college scholarships through The Lloyd and Morissa Parkans Scholarship Fund, the Edith and Robert Zinn Scholarship, and an Alexander JFS Scholarship.
    • Eligible applicants can apply now on the JFS website. The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026.
    • For a guide to frequently asked questions, please click here. For more information and eligibility guidelines for the Alexander JFS loans and scholarships, click here.
  • Jewish Children’s Regional Service (JCRS) is another resource for college or vocational training aid. Visit https://jcrs.org/services/college-aid/ to learn more.